Earth Day Network: Connecting the Billion

On April 22, 2009, the global Earth Day celebrations will mark their 39th anniversary along with the Earth Day Network, the nonprofit organization that grew out of the original Earth Day in 1970.

Just as the annual celebration has grown exponentially to now include over a billion participants, so has the organization dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and connecting supporters through its international network.

The Link Between Economy and Environment

According to Lisa Swann, the Earth Day Network’s vice president of communications and marketing, “The economic crisis and the climate crisis are converging. The Earth Day Network is working to insure that we have more renewable energy going into the future and more green jobs.”

In addition to their lobbying efforts in Washington D.C., the network plans to take their discussion about a green economy to national town hall meetings all over the country as co-sponsor of The National Conversation on Climate Action.

Get involved in an Earth Day project near you. From cleaning up parks to collecting and recycling waste, no task is too small. Photo: Rosario-resort.blogspot.com

Events for Earth, Every Day

The Earth Day Network works year-round to help promote individual and community involvement with regard to both environmental policy and action.

According to Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers, “EDN’s international network reaches over 15,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program keeps over 5,000 groups and over 100,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year.” The network’s programs and events include:

• Earth Day Events
• Campus Campaigns
• Green Generation
• Global Water Network

Empowering the Green Generation

The Earth Day Network’s Green Generation Campaign officially launches Earth Day 2009, but the network already has many education initiatives in place. Teachers can join the Educator’s Network, which offers a wide range of curriculum covering a variety of environmental topics.

The network has also partnered with The Clinton Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council (responsible for establishing the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification program) for its national GREEN Schools Campaign. In addition to working to renovate and build greener schools, the campaign also focuses on curriculum development, energy audits, greening cleaning supplies, planting gardens and installing solar panels.

Faith in the Future

According to Swann, “It is important that we look for new solutions in the future, and we are really working to ensure that this generation comes to fruition as the green generation that focuses more on sustainability than those in the past.” Thanks to a robust Web site and the ability of today’s supporters to effectively use the Internet as a means of connecting with others to create change, they are already making a great start. Earth Day 2009 promises to be a real springboard toward the bright future of the green movement.